T-72B vs T-64B | 1985 vs 1976 | 3BM32 | Armor Penetration Simulation

Simulation of T-72B projectile hitting turret armor of T-64B

125mm 3BM32 APFSDS (~4.3 kg DU penetrator) at 1585 m/s

vs

Turret front armor (~500mm LoS at angle of impact)

~180mm LoS two rows of corundum balls in cast steel.

Durability of corundum balls reduced due to thermal shock occurring at the stage of armor production

125mm 2A46M-1 gun muzzle velocity (3BM32) - 1710m/s. 1585 m/s refers to a distance of approximately 1.5 km.

[dejmianxyzsimulations]

The T-64B is from 1976, the same year as the Leo2AV, the projectile appeared 10 years later

3BM32
Theoretical limit of RHA penetration at 1585m/s.
for 60 degrees ~ 475mm
for 0 degree ~ 410mm

~500mm LOS armor
calculations for 30 degrees and stopping 95% of the projectile's penetration potential.

RHA mass efficiency ~ 0.95
CHA mass efficiency ~ 1.05
RHA equivalent ~ 0.8

the version with balls in aluminum is unconfirmed, it may be a data source error

[juusolatva]

the balls might be more effective against shaped charges, but even then the idea is most likely to make the turret and therefore the tank lighter compared to having the turret filled with nothing but steel, while still retaining a decent amount of protection.

[ozza]

I mean, it did good enough against apfsds that appeared almost a decade later than the turret. By that time Kontakt-5 was a thing already :P
Too bad Obj.476 got cancelled - it had new turret (that later will appear on t-80u/ud) and was developed pretty much in the same 1976.

[CHMichael]

I like the concept - more balls. I want more balls

[jimtrela]

Brilliant that you rendered the ceramic balls alone.

[TheBigExclusive]

If the turret was just a little tiny bit thicker it could have stopped the round.

[MESuperPershing]

I watch your content for a long time and i would love to see a video either the T26E4 long 90mm cannon against the tiger 2 turret face or a shot to the lower frontal plate where supposibly the tiger 2 was destroyed in an encounter with the T26E4 you can also found the description of the figth is the video "america king tiger killer" by Cone of arc

[Steve-mrun]

Could you perhaps simulate a DM31/FFV 08 EFP mine versus a belly armor plate?

Also, with this thermal stress weakening the spheres, it would appear the effect on KE rounds is very low. It could have better performance against shaped charges, as the jet tip velocity could be greater than the shattering velocity of the spheres. Glass should have a shatter velocity around 1.5 km/s.

[NathanDecker-sj]

I would like to see the American t34 shoot a tiger 2 ufp

[jakearmstrong]

If this was a T-64BM varient with K-5 ERA it almost certainly would have stopped this round. I do wonder if a shot in this same spot from a 3BM42 round to a T-64BM with K-5 would still pen?

[eliradinsky]

Could you do simulation of an APHE shell goes perfectly into a tank barrel while the breach is open (target tank is reloading)?

[MrChewy]

I didn't expect the steel version to do better. In the steel, the balls where crushed whereas in aluminum they were pushed aside allowing for them to erode the penetrator more.

[roryr]

What would have happened if the balls were up to spec?

[HanSolo__]

Dynema-made, internal "blankets" or panels as the anti-spalling anti-shrapnel layer of protection inside the tank?

[stigmautomata]

How do they even get the balls in there

[morgus]

Could we get a comparison of 3BM42 and 3BM32 vs IPM1 Abrams turret cheek?

[gitfoad]

Could've sworn this was ceramic balls against HEAT.

[LuigianoMariano]

"The required process quality was never reached"
Shoddy workmanship can make a big difference in compromising survivability.

[FelipeCH-fnsc]

Any chance you could test the T-72M1 glacis but with K5 and test against against, say, M829A1 or A2. The most popular T-72 variant and the one used in every non-russian upgrade program

[inveriux]

Could you simulate IS-3 vs Maus frontal glacis plate?